FEDERAL UPDATES

CMS Issues Reopening Guidelines for Nursing Homes. CMS has issued a 10-page memo outlining Nursing Home Reopening Guidelines. The plan assigns to states the responsibility to determine how nursing homes progress through the phases of reopening. All may be required to go together, or by region/area, or nursing homes may progress individually. The memo includes a recommendation that nursing homes have testing plans in place that include a baseline test for every resident and staff member. After that all residents are tested until every resident tests negative. Staff are retested weekly. Nursing homes are required to have screening protocols, arrangements with labs to process tests, and written procedures for residents or staff who decline to be tested or are unable to be tested. Here is an article with an overview of the memo. Here are the FAQs.

The phased reopening of nursing homes will be complex, complicated, and confusing at best. Certain recommendations, such as adequate staffing, adequate PPE, and a testing plan including baseline testing for all residents and staff, will prove insurmountable without significant support for nursing homes. There are no plans for the federal government to provide this support.

More detailed analysis of the phases will be discussed during LeadingAge National member call today at 2:30 PM Central. Register Here.

Read LeadingAge’s statement on the CMS memo.           

CDC’s NHSN LTC COVID-19 Module Reporting Due

The first reports to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) COVID-19 LTC Module were due yesterday, May 17.  Providers have until May 24 until CMS will implement enforcement remedies. 

LEADINGAGE KANSAS UPDATES

What Are You Learning during the Time Of COVID-19?

Here are insights one member has learned during the pandemic: We have learned a lot during COVID-19, for starters, the learning styles and types of education that need to be provided to our staff is so different from person to person.  I know that people learn differently but this has really brought the learning styles to the forefront.  We have also learned that our infection control audits need improvement.  We have worked diligently on this through this pandemic but we just need to get better at how we do our audits and how we document our education for those that need it.  Feel free to share your insights with us. Email debra@leadingagekansas.org

Join Us For Our Weekly Update Call

Guests for our weekly COVID-19 webinar this Friday at 10 AM are Ruth Katz, LeadingAge National Sr VP Policy and Advocacy, and Jodi Eiygor, LeadingAge National Director of Nursing Home Quality and Advocacy. Please send questions that you would like them to address to debra@leadingagekansas.org. Register for this webinar today.

Outstanding PPE Request?

We need to hear from you if you have an outstanding PPE request in with your local emergency management system? We are being told by state officials there are currently no requests. Email debra@leadingagekansas.org.

KANSAS UPDATES

LEADINGAGE NATIONAL UPDATES

OTHER INFORMATION/RESOURCES

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Nicole Schings
Nicole Schings is the Director of Member Services and Business Development. Nicole joined the association in 2018, and oversees our Member Services program, our Partnership and Associate Member relationships, and our online education system. A graduate of Washburn University, Nicole uses her 22 years of experience in the association world to enhance the support of our members, problem solve their issues and bring new partners into the LeadingAge Kansas family. Outside of work, Nicole is passionate about geocaching and moments spent with her dog, Blu. You can reach Nicole directly at 785.670.8048.

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